This year the board has decided to do something a little bit unusual. For the fifth time ever, the nomination committee has selected two recipients as both embody the spirit of curling and are tireless volunteers and advocates for the club and for curling in general.

The first recipient has, through years of dedication and commitment, been one of the reasons this club has become what it is. The other shows us that we have a bright future if we continue to follow that example.

Yvonne Leach

Our first recipient has been a driving force behind club activities for decades. She spent 6 years as a director of the club, was vice president and then president of the Ladies Afternoon League from 2004 to 2009, served as president of the Senior Mixed League from 2017 to 2022, and is still actively involved in volunteering with both leagues as Spares Coordinator for the Senior Mixed League and serving on the team-forming committee with the Ladies' Afternoon League. She continues to volunteer for league banquets and other tasks, as well as with other club activities such as open houses.

In 2005 and again in 2012, she acted as Secretary for the Ladies Valentine Bonspiels and Nifty Fifty Bonspiels involving teams from across BC and hosted by Esquimalt Curling Club.

And that's just a quick summary of what she's done for our club.

While she did receive this award some 22 years ago, her relentless dedication and commitment over the years since make her more than worthy of this recognition again.

Jamie Miller

The other recipient is one of the club's younger members, having joined the junior league in 2019. In recent years he has been very active in helping out with the running of the junior league, mentoring newer players and being willing and able to step up and take over on-ice duties after Rachelle suffered an injury which prevented her from going on the ice for an extended period.

He took the Club Coaching course in the 2024-2025 season and immediately started helping out with the Learn to Curl program and the rookie league in the seasons since. He has also been learning the art of ice making, was one of the principal volunteers on the ice crew for this year's provincial championships, and works to prep the ice for the Monday Men's League and the Sunday Funday League (of which he is also a member). He spares in multiple leagues, even if it means playing back-to-back games while also prepping the ice after having spent the afternoon coaching Learn to Curl.

For the 2025-2026 season, I am honoured to present the Curler of the Year award to Yvonne Leach and Jamie Miller.